For those of us in dairy, it’s hard to imagine not knowing where your milk comes from. But as our generations become more removed from agriculture, most kids think milk and dairy foods come from a refrigerator and have no idea the care and commitment dairy farm families and others in the value chain put into bringing them to the marketplace.
With science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) standards now prioritized in our educational systems, dairy and educational concepts go hand in hand. Through that connection, we can open a whole new world to these students by sharing how dairy farms care for their cows, the land and the products they produce. We can also inspire these students to explore the many different careers that are part of the dairy industry.
With more than 1.7 million students reached worldwide, that is what we at the Dairy Excellence Foundation (the foundation) are doing through every program we provide for students to learn about dairy. Adopt a Cow and Discover Dairy programs inspire connections, while the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program cultivates a passion for working in dairy. Our scholarships and internships support students in their journey along the way. From the farmers of today to the farmers of tomorrow, the foundation works to foster collaboration, legacy and meaningful dairy education opportunities by working hand in hand with students, farmers and teachers.
When it comes to consumer education and workforce development across the dairy industry, our donors and partners are helping the foundation move the needle in the following ways:
- The elementary and middle school students enrolled in the Adopt a Cow program last school year increased their dairy knowledge by 76% through the program.
- The foundation found that 26% of Adopt a Cow teachers said they observed their students eating more dairy and 60% of Adopt a Cow teachers said students were talking about dairy more often.
- High schoolers completed 663 courses through Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow in subject areas such as dairy technologies, dairy herd management and more.
- Two young professionals began Dairy Herd Manager Apprenticeships on Pennsylvania dairy farms in 2024.
As we begin 2025, take a look at some of the faces that make up the Dairy Excellence Foundation’s legacy and help drive the work we do all year long.
Consumer education: ‘Aha!’ moments for elementary and middle school students
The Discover Dairy and Adopt a Cow programs continue to grow each year by introducing elementary and middle school students to agriculture and dairy farming in creative, memorable ways. The programs build connections to different subject areas and lead to several “aha” moments that stay with students for a lifetime – especially with farm tour field trip grants that allow them to visit working dairy farms in their community. Here are some of those moments:
- Authentic ways to implement agriculture in the classroom: “I am genuinely so thankful for this program. Everything is so easily accessible and fun to interact with. My students are so excited about it. You and your team work so hard to help teachers like me implement agriculture into the classroom. You’re making a difference,” says Madison, an elementary school teacher in the Adopt a Cow program.
- An appreciation for where their food comes from: “It’s really important for kids to see value in our agriculture community and those who work in it – for them to make real connections with who those people are and what they’re doing. The virtual farm tours through the Adopt a Cow program helped them see that these are real people. This is something they really gravitate toward and get excited about,” says Amy, an elementary teacher in the Adopt a Cow program.
- Connections to different subject areas: “It has been such a wonderful learning experience for us in everything we have done around our adopted calf, Angelica. From working on proper nouns to geography to writing to understanding elections, it has all been a memorable way to learn. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be involved with this program,” says Jamie, a third-grade teacher in the Adopt a Cow program.
- Excitement and lifelong memories: “In my 20 years of teaching, I have never enjoyed a program as much as Adopt a Cow. My students have enjoyed it, and we are all thrilled to go see our cow in May,” says Victoria, an elementary teacher and active Discover Dairy user.

The Adopt a Cow program reaches more than 1.8 million students nationwide. Image courtesy of Pennsylvania's Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation.
Workforce development: Meaningful careers and new perspective for young dairy professionals
From internships and scholarships to professional development opportunities, the foundation is committed to supporting both high schoolers and young dairy professionals once they graduate from high school. We help students gain new perspectives on different types of farms, build relationships and connections across the dairy industry, and ease the financial burden of continuing their education.
The Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program is designed to help high school students explore the dairy industry through four relevant courses and direct, on-farm learning experiences. Through an articulation agreement between Delaware Valley University and the Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow program, students who complete program courses while they’re in high school can earn college credits – benefitting them both financially and academically. More articulation agreements are currently being formed to grow this opportunity for more students.
For students who may not know whether college is the right option for them, the program has a Dairy Herd Manager Pre-apprenticeship program that leads students into a dairy herd manager apprenticeship program after high school. In June of 2024, Kristina Quinn, a young dairy professional from Pennsylvania, began her apprenticeship at Zahncroft Dairy, a Pennsylvania dairy farm.
“There’s something about cows that just calms me down a bit. My cousin referred me to this farm [in high school] and I’ve been here ever since. They’re great people,” Quinn shares.
When her employers at Zahncroft Dairy told her about the Dairy Herd Manager Pre-apprenticeship and Apprenticeship programs, she knew it would give her the opportunity to grow her skills while helping to solidify her career path. Quinn began the apprenticeship in June of 2024.
“I thought the apprenticeship could give me a better overview of what I want to do. If I decide to go to college, hopefully this experience will give me a better idea of what I want to go for. I’m a lot more hands-on, and I learn better by doing versus just reading a book or going through it in a classroom,” she adds.
While Quinn is still figuring out which side of the dairy industry interests her most, one of her favorite parts of the apprenticeship has been working with cows, ultrasounding and breeding.
“I’ve been a major part of our breeding rates going up. With ultrasounding, it’s easier for them to start breeding more cows and everything. I really like that side,” Quinn says. “The treatment side is also really interesting to me because that’s completely new to me and it’s always different case by case.”
While the foundation reaches more than 1.7 million students across the U.S., this is only a fraction – 2% – of the students whom we need to reach. The vast majority of the remaining 98% have little to no connection to where their food comes from or to the dairy farm families who produce it.
Learn more about how you can get involved with these programs and support our mission by visiting our website.
With less than 2% of the U.S. population directly involved in production agriculture, the Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania was created to expose students to agriculture-related careers and inspire the producers, consumers and advocates of tomorrow. This is an overview of the foundation’s recent impact.